Palmwoods is a time capsule of the Coast's past

THE town of Palmwoods has been pioneering, resilient, instrumental and elegant in the making of the Sunshine Coast.

It is the time capsule that was built by local families, many of whose descendants remain today, living and working among the historic streets that remain largely unchanged.

When the Sunshine Coast was named in 1967, Palmwoods was already 86 years old. To say it helped to make and name the Sunshine Coast is an understatement.

The railway, businesses and industries located in the town helped the area to forge ahead. Farmers in the area included Sir Frank Nicklin, Premier of Queensland from 1957 to 1968.

A 1994 photo of the historic row of shops in Little Main St, overlooking the railway with family business still operating from them.Roger Todd

In 1967, Collins store was owned by Peter, Reg and Bob Collins, with Betty working in the drapery. The Palmwoods Hotel licence was held by John and Margaret Casey with "sparkling cold XXXX and Carlton beers on taps and all brands of wines, spirits and liqueurs available”.

Warren Ostwald Brooker was manager of the ES&A Bank.

He lived in the bank manager's house at the rear of the bank serving the local towns. These buildings all remain today.

In the 1960s, Little Main Street continued to be a busy hub of cafes and stores run by locals, just as it is today.

Hobson's Butcher store was one of the businesses in the row of shops. In 1967, the shop was run by slaughtermen Harry and Cecil Hobson. Locals recall that babies were often weighed on the scales.

The other butcher store further down main street was run by Fanny McKillop, better known as "Biddy”. Ray Horace Hagaman owned a cafe in the historic Pages Cafe building and Edward Downes operated a TV and sales service business.

May 1967 Opening of the Palmwoods and district Branch of the Queensland Police and Citizen's Youth Club at the Palmwoods Memorial Hall.Lorna Hardingham

Roy and Lorraine Martin arrived in town in 1967 to take over the newsagents. The Nambour Chronicle on March 21, 1968 reported Palmwoods was a town with rapidly emerging civic pride with many plans for further beautification.

In 1967, the Palmwoods CWA Hall turned 30 and continued to provide a health service for mothers and babies. The hall was bustling with activity. It had a dropbox dunny until the 1980s. The committee also ran debutante balls and dances in the Palmwoods Memorial Hall.

The other hall in town is the Palmwoods Memorial Hall which is famous for events including the Orange Blossom Ball. Locals recall 900 people attending, with only 450 allowed in the hall at any time. The other 450 had to wait outside or go to the Palmwoods Hotel while they waited their turn.

Trains were run from Brisbane to bring people to the event.

Dancers would sneak out to booze stored in cars, and during a break in the night the band would "partake in liquid refreshments” that were kept across the road in the ice works of Hobson's butcher. Constable R.F. Hulett must have been turning a blind eye as the lock-up was only around the corner.

A gathering of Palmwoods QCWA members in 1975.Contributed

It still remains today, recently renovated, it sits behind the police station.

Accommodation for the night included a bucket and locals tell stories of putting their hand out the cell window to catch the morning moisture off the roof for a drink.

The Memorial Hall was also the birthplace of the Palmwoods and District branch of the Queensland Police and Citizens Youth Club. The club was popular with the locals and was held on Tuesday nights. Activities included gymnastics and boxing.

Amateur boxing events were held in the hall and a regular timekeeper was local legend Lorna Hardingham, who was also timekeeper with the R.Q.B.A. Lorna time-kept for approximately 5000 fights and was the first female timekeeper for the Australian titles.

Palmwoods was centre stage in developing the region's tourism. On May 10, 1924, the Brisbane Courier reported: "If holiday traffic is taken into consideration, in addition to the large volume of general business throughout the year Palmwoods is one of the busiest railway stations along the North Coast railway”.

In 1967, the train carried fruit and timber to the city. The railway station that has served both the railway and Palmwoods-to-Buderim tram has recently been restored to former glory, including being painted in original colours.

The old path the Palmwoods to Buderim tramline took remains nearby.

With the fruit industry still thriving in the 1960s, the area was bustling. Across from the railway is the Palmwoods, Montville and Buderim Fruit Growers Sheds which were still operational in the 1960s. Fruit was being loaded on to the rail in wooden bulk bins, each holding 800kg.

Frederick Joseph Hall was manager of the Co-op Society and Vince O'Rourke was the fruit loader. The sheds today are leased by Pallet Space: a thriving cottage industry.

The town of Palmwoods was growing quickly in 1967. The original houses in Hill, Mary, Railway and Frewtell and many other streets remain today.

Palmwoods Bowls Club can also lay claim to being the first bowls club on the Sunshine Coast.

Palmwoods remains a vibrant community today with a thriving heritage tourism industry. Nestled among forested hills are preserved streetscapes. Local families have renovated and take pride in the historic buildings they love so much.

Farming remains, along with industrial and cottage industries.

The train horn sounds as it passes through town and Palmwoods people go about life in a way only Palmwoods people can.

Palmwoods is the time capsule of the Sunshine Coast that helps us understand from where we have come.